Shoe tree



Mar, 20, 1923,

A. H..KEYS..: L

SHOE TREE.

FILED DEC. 2l, i921.

Patented llt/lar.' 2CD), i923.

d 'N l naar a .rai

ALEXANDER E. KEYS, OF SAN FRANCISCO, C AIJIFORNIA.

SHOE TREE.

Application iled December 21, 1921.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that l, ALEXANDER H. Kurs, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of San Francisco, county of San Francisco, and State of California, have invented a `new and useful Shoe Tree, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates in general to shoe trees and has particular reference to a device of this character which embodies certain advantageous features which are an improvement over heretofore known devices of this type. rlhe primary object of my invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive device which may be easily manipulated and capable of carrying out its intended use with the greatest of eiiiciency.

lThe invention possesses further features which will appear as the description now proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of the device and Figure 2 is a horizontal section with some of the parts shown in elevation.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, l propose to produce an all metal device consisting primarily of a frame (1) made from a continuous band of metal of the desired dimensions and shaped to conform somewhat to the general contour of a shoe. Pivoted to the front of the frame by means of the metal U-shaped strap (2) is a frog (3), the same having an oval contour and slightly curved in cross section so as to conform to the inside dimensions of a shoe. rlhe pivotal connection of the frog is made by notching out the metal of the same as at (4) so that the strap (2) may straddle the wire frame piece (5) which is arranged around the outer edge of the frog. The thickness of the frog is preferably cut away as at (6) to leave a lightness of metal and also for Ventilating purposes. The frog (3) is made of relatively thin sheet metal and its pivotal connection with the frame is so arranged as to permit it to swing in a vertical plane.

Arranged intermediate the ends of the frame is a transverse rod (7) which passes through an eye in the lower extremity of a lever (8) so that. the lever is practically fulcrumed to the rod with the horizontal eX- tension part (9) thereof extending forward of the frame with an upturned end (10) carr ing a block (11). rlhe block (11) is note ed along its top with the notches spaced apart to receive the longitudinal rods (12) SeralNo. 523,968.

on the under side of the frog. The lever (8) has a suitable manipulating handle (13) so that by pulling the same rearward of the frame it will be rocked about its pivotal connection with the rod (7 which will impart an upward lifting movement to the rear end of the frog to change the angular plane of the same as best shown in dotted lines in Figure 2. With this construction, when the device is in the shoe the lever may be pulled back to cause the frog to push upwardly on the top of the shoe which will hold the same in the same shape as when worn, and by exerting a greater pressure or pulling further back on the lever, the shoe may be stretched. Any tension desired may be realized for stretching or shaping. To hold the lever (8) with the frog (3) in an. desired adjusted position l prefer to use a link (14) which is made with a plurality of notches (15) on its under side and adapted to pass through an opening (16) in the handle (17) which is fixed to the back of the frame.

s best shown in Figure 2 the notches (15) will engage the beveled edge (18) of the opening (16) and hold the lever in any desired adjusted position as stated. When the link (14) is released the lever (8) may be pushed forward or the' coil spring (19), which is anchored to one of the sleeves (20) arranged on the rod (7) on each side of the lever may be used for pulling the frog back as well as tipping the lever forward. end of the spring (19) is of course hooked to the frog as shown in Figure 2.

From the above it will be readily seen that I have produced a most durable device since it is made all of metal with the parts rugged enough to withstand abuse, and at the same time light enough so that it ma be conven-y iently handled and, as previous y stated, capable of carrying out its intended use with the greatest of efliciency.

l claim:

1. A device of the character described, comprising a frame, a handle at its'back for lifting the same, a frog pivoted to the front of the frame on a horizontal axis, a lever pivoted intermediate of the ends of the frame bearing with one arm against the underside'of the frog t-o support the saine and being adapted to be rocked about its pivot to impart an upward thrust to the frog, and means for holding the lever in various active positions.

2. A device of the character described, comprising a frame, a handle at its back for lifting the same, a frog pivoted to the front of the frame on a horizontal axis, a lever pivoted intermediate of the ends of the frame hearing vfith one arm against the underside of the frog 'to support the same and kbeing adapted to be rocked about its pivot to impart an upward thrust'to thev frog, and means for holding` the lever in Various active positions, comprising a link having notches on its underside adapted to be passed through an opening n the handle With the notches engaging one edge thereof.

o ALEXANDER H. KEYS. 

